Wagering game

ABSTRACT

A casino wagering game which consists of a board, a plurality of tokens, each token having a primary side and a secondary side, each token having one of at least two characteristics, and wherein there is a means for shaking the tokens, casting the tokens such that the tokens land with either their primary side up or their secondary side up; and, and wherein the payout is determined by the number of tokens exhibiting their primary side up. The payout is determined by the number of tokens of each characteristic that lands primary side up.

BACKGROUND OF THE INTENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to casino wagering games, and more particularly casino wagering games that may be adopted to board games or to machines.

There are many wagering games used for gambling. Such games should be exciting to arouse players' interest and uncomplicated to be understood easily by a large number of players. Ideally, the games should include multiple opportunities for player skill during the course of the game, yet be able to be played rapidly to wager-resolving outcomes. Exciting play also provides the player with frequent small pay-outs and the opportunity for large jackpot wins.

Wagering games, particularly those intended primarily for play in casinos, should provide players with a sense of participation and control, the opportunity to make decisions, and reasonable odds of winning, even though the odds favor the house. A casino will never act as a bank for a game in which the average player has the advantage over the house. The game must also meet the requirements of the regulatory agencies.

One common apparatus used for gambling is a slot machine. Slot machines select symbols and determine pay-outs based on the combinations of symbols selected. Many slot machines have only one pay line and, therefore, only one primary set of symbols.

Other slot machines display nine symbols in a three-by-three matrix like a tic-tac-toe board. Some of these slot machines have three pay lines forming three primary sets in the horizontal directions but not shared secondary sets.

A slot machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,604 selects five symbols by spinning three slot wheels as depicted in FIG. 1. The left and right wheels select two symbols, one located above the center and another located below the center while the middle wheel selects one symbol for the center. Players win based on pay-out combinations in the two diagonal directions. This device contains two primary sets of symbols and a common shared secondary set of symbols. However, because the upper left and lower left symbols are on the same wheel, they have a conditional probability of one. Selection of one of the symbols in a particular location on the wheel guarantees selection of the other symbol on the wheel as well. Whenever multiple symbols are selected from the same wheel, the second symbol will always have a conditional probability of one.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Described herein is a gambling board game that comprises the flipping of a multiplicity of tokens, each token having a primary side and a secondary side, and bets placed and paid on the basis of occurrence of the primary sides being face up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 describes the tokens of the invention.

FIG. 2 describes a first embodiment of the game of the invention.

FIG. 3 describes a first portion of a second embodiment of the game of the invention.

FIG. 3 a describes a second portion of the second embodiment of the game of the invention.

FIG. 3 b describes a third portion of the second embodiment of the game.

FIG. 4 describes an enlarged betting area of the game.

FIG. 5 describes a slot machine embodiment of the game of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts the tokens of the invention. Each token has a primary side and a secondary side, and the aggregate tokens are either of two sets of characteristics. In the preferred embodiment we shall discuss the invention in the terms of a coin having a primary side being a head, and a secondary side being a tail, and the set of characteristics being two, either a green coin or a red coin. There are no restrictions to the designation for the primary side or the secondary side, any choice of words or symbols will do as long as they may be differentiated. Concomitantly, there are no restrictions on the number of tokens, as long as there is a method for determining the difference between the sets of tokens. Also, there is no restriction on the numbers of sets of characteristics, meaning there could be three or more. In this preferred embodiment, there are seven coins, 4 of green characteristic, and 3 of red characteristic, each coin having a head and a tail. FIG. 1 shows 4 rows of coins, 10-16. Row 10 shows 4 green coins, head side up. Row 12 shows 4 green coins, tail side up. Row 14 shows 3 red coins, head side up, and row 16 shows 3 red coins, tail side up.

FIG. 2 discloses the board 17 describing the game, with the game name 18 prominently set forth at the top of the board. Proof area 22 shows four green areas designated, 1 Head, 2 Heads, 3 Heads, and 4 Heads, respectively. Proof areas 23 shows four green areas designated, 1 Tail, 2 Tails, 3 Tails, and 4 Tails, respectively. Proof area 24 shows three red areas designated, 1 Head, 2 Heads, and 3 Heads, respectively. Proof areas 26 shows three red areas designated, 1 Tail, 2 Tails, and 3 Tails, respectively.

Betting area 28 is a sequence of eight areas designating the possibilities of outcome of the primary side up (Heads) results, 0-7. Each of the eight areas of betting area 28 displays the odds associated with the “Heads” up possibility. For example, the payout for 4 Heads pays 3:1.

Betting area 30 is a sequence of five green areas designating the possibilities of occurrence of primary side up (Heads) results of the green coins, 0-4, and betting area 32 is a sequence of four red areas designating the possibilities of occurrence of primary side up (Heads) results of the red coins, 0-3. Each of the betting areas displays the odds associated with the occurrence of each event of primary side up (Heads). Betting area 34 is a sequence of combination areas in the form of a matrix, having a selected number of possibilities. The combinations are combinations of green and red primary sides up, for example, one combination might be 4 green Heads and 1 red Head. Again, the odds associated with each possibility are included.

In the operation of the game, and after all bets have been laid on the board, a selected number of tokens, in this case seven coins, are placed in a cup, shaken, and distributed, or cast, on the surface of the board at a location specified as coin box 20. When shaken and cast on coin box 20, there is a random distribution of sides shown primary face up (Heads) on coin box 20. The coins are then distributed to their respective proof circles, for example, if there are 3 green coins showing primary side up, they are slid over to proof area 22, and if there are 2 red coins showing primary side up, they are slid over to proof area 24. The coins showing secondary side up are slid over to their respective proof areas 23 and 26. The dealer then pays out to the bettors based on the total number of primary sides up of the tokens, the number of green primary sides up, and the number of red primary sides up, and the combination. To initiate another game, the board is cleared, new bets placed, and the tokens again shaken and cast.

FIGS. 3, 3 a and 3 b disclose the board 35 describing the game, with the game name 36 prominently set forth at the top of the board. Proof area 38 shows four green areas designated, “1 Head, 2 Heads, 3 Heads, and 4 Heads,” respectively. Proof areas 40 shows four green areas designated, “1 Tail, 2 Tails, 3 Tails, and 4 Tails,” respectively. Proof area 42 shows three red areas designated, “1 Head, 2 Heads, and 3 Heads,” respectively. Proof areas 44 shows three red areas designated, “1 Tail, 2 Tails, and 3 Tails,” respectively.

In this embodiment, the betting areas are larger, and the betting options are increased. Whereas in the first embodiment, there was one betting area 28, in this embodiment, there are two betting areas 46L and 46R, each a sequence of eight areas designating the possibilities of occurrence of the primary side up (Heads) results, 0-7. Each of the eight areas of betting areas 46L and 46R display odds associated with the “Heads” up possibility.

Similarly, there are two equivalents to betting area 30, betting areas 48L and 48R, each a sequence of five green areas designating the possibilities of occurrence of primary side up (Heads) results of the green coins, 0-4, and there are two equivalents to betting area 32, betting areas 50L and 50R, sequences of four red areas designating the possibilities of occurrence of primary side up (Heads) results of the red coins, 0-3. Each of the betting areas displays the odds associated with the occurrence of each event of primary side up. In addition, there are two new betting areas 52L and 52R, each specified as Field Bet, wherein there is a subset of primary side up possibilities displaying the same odds of occurrence. Betting area 34 has been replaced with a betting area 54, a sequence of combination areas in the form of a matrix, having a larger selected number of possibilities. FIG. 4 is an enlargement of betting area 54. In this embodiment, the matrix maximizes the possibilities of occurrence between the green and red primary sides up. Again, the odds associated with each possibility are included. The operation of the game is the same.

FIG. 5 describes the operation of the game in a slot machine. In a slot machine, there is no proof areas for the tokens, as the tokens will be displayed by the slot machine. Betting area 58 is a sequence of eight areas designating the possibilities of outcome of the primary side up (Heads) results, 0-7. Each of the eight areas of betting area 28 displays odds associated with the “Heads” up possibility.

Betting area 60 is a sequence of five green areas designating the possibilities of occurrence of primary side up (Heads) results of the green coins, 0-4, and betting area 62 is a sequence of four red areas designating the possibilities of occurrence of primary side up (Heads) results of the red coins, 0-3. Each of the betting areas displays the odds associated with the occurrence of each event of primary side up (Heads). Betting area 64 is a sequence of combination areas in the form of a matrix, having a selected number of possibilities. The combinations are combinations of green and red primary sides up, for example, one combination might be 4 green Heads and 1 red Head. Again, the odds associated with each possibility are included. Each of the betting areas is touch sensitive, creating a signal to be sent to the machine when touched. A legend 66 is prominently displayed with instructs the player, “Touch One Circle or One Square,” in order to select the bet.

Box 70 is also touch sensitive, with the legend, “How to Play,” causing an instruction set to be displayed explaining the operation of the game. Another touch sensitive area designated, “Flip Coins,” initiates the game once the bet has been placed. 

1. A casino wagering game, comprising: a plurality of tokens, each token having a primary side and a secondary side, each token having one of at least two characteristics; a means for shaking the tokens; casting the tokens such that the tokens land with either their primary side up or their secondary side up; and; wherein the payout is determined by the number of tokens exhibiting their primary side up.
 2. The casino wagering game of claim 1 wherein the payout is determined by the number of tokens of each characteristic that lands primary side up.
 3. The casino wagering game of claim 1 wherein the means for shaking the tokens comprises placing the tokens in a receptacle and shaking the tokens.
 4. The casino wagering game of claim 1 wherein the token is a coin and the primary side is a head and the secondary side is a tail.
 5. The casino wagering game of claim 1 wherein one characteristic is green.
 6. The casino wagering game of claim 1 wherein one characteristic is red.
 7. A casino wagering game, comprising: a plurality of tokens, each token having a primary side and a secondary side, each token having one of at least two characteristics; a means for shaking the tokens; casting the tokens such that the tokens land with either their primary side up or with their secondary side up; and; wherein the payout is determined by the number of tokens of each characteristic that lands primary side up.
 8. The casino wagering game of claim 7 wherein the payout is determined by the number of tokens exhibiting their primary side up.
 9. The casino wagering game of claim 7 wherein the means for shaking the tokens comprises placing the tokens in a receptacle and shaking the tokens.
 10. The casino wagering game of claim 7 wherein the token is a coin and the primary side is a head and the secondary side is a tail.
 11. The casino wagering game of claim 7 wherein one characteristic is green.
 12. The casino wagering game of claim 7 wherein one characteristic is red.
 13. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising, comprising: causing the simulation of a plurality of tokens, each token having a primary side and a secondary side, each token having one of at least two characteristics, the tokens being shaken such that the tokens are displayed as landing on either their primary side up or their secondary side up; and; wherein the payout is determined by the number of tokens of each characteristic that lands primary side up.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the payout is determined by the number of tokens exhibiting their primary side up.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the token is a coin and the primary side is a head and the secondary side is a tail. 